Bread slicing machine



Feb. 23, 1943. A. A. KOTTMANN ET L 2,311,761

BREAD SLICING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORSARTHUR A. KG TMANN FRED 1.. BENNETT EDWARD R. KEAST ATTORNEYS Feb. 23,1943- A. A. KOTTMANN ETAL 2,311,761

" BREAD SLICING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 50, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSARTHUR A. KOTTMANN #12242 FRED BENNETT EDWARD R. KEAST Patented Feb. 23,1943 Arthur A. Kottmann, Davenport, an'diFredpL. Bennett, Le ;Claire,Iowa, and Edward R. Keast, "WestEnglewood; N. .L, assignors,by--mesneassignments, to TheBettendorf Company, a corporation ofMaryland Application November 30, 1940, Serial N 0. 3.673998 -6''Claims. (01. 146-88) This invention relatesjto bread slicingmachinesofthe. endless band slicer type, and-:more particularly to means: forpreventing accumulationof solidmaterial .on the blade surfaces.

It has been found that when. slicingcertain varieties vof bread,. suchas rye bread and; some types of white bread, a glutenous'deposit isbuilt up on the blades :andon the pulleys which .;drive the blades.:This deposit cakes on theblades and pulleys andcausesheating of theblades-because of .friction .developed at the .point where :thebladespass through the guiding fingers. This increase in bladetemperature is sufficient to bake the gluten deposit "so that .:it isextremely hard and diificult to remove. :The gluten deposit causesexcessive wear on the guidetfingers and also, due to the heatdeveloped'by friction, the blades'are lengthened and .the tension of theblades reduced with the result that the slices become uneven.

One object of the present, invention. is :to provide for continuouslylubricating .zthe sidezsurfaces of the blades to lessenthehtendencyofthe glutenous material toadhere to the blades.

Another objectof the invention is to provide means for continuouslyremoving any material adhering to the blade surfaces or to the surfacesof the pulleys.

With the above and other objects. in; view, the invention maybe said tocomprise the "lubricating and cleaning means illustrated in theaccompanying drawings hereinafter-described andparticularly set forth inthe appended claims,';together with such variations and'modifica'tionsthereof as will be apparent to. one skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a partofthis specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sideielevation .of

band blade slicer showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale showing. thelubricating and scraping devices associated with .one of the blade.

pulleys;

Fig. .3 .is a fragmentary side elevation on'an enlarged scale showingthelubricating and Scraping deviceassociated with the other, pulley;

Fig. 4 is. a fragmentary front elevationof one end of the vbladelubricating and scraping device, portions being.v broken away andshownin section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation. .of the ingdevicev with aportion of .the lubricating device broken away-and .shown .in, section;

Fig. 6 is -a section takenon the line indicated at 6-6 in Fig.4;

Fig. 7 is a section vtakencn the line indicated at 1l in Fig..2,'- andFig. 8-is a section on the line indicated at 88 in Fig. 7.

In the accompanying drawings, the devices of the present i-nventionareshown applied .to the .slicing unit, ofa bread slicing machine, whichcomprises spaced :pulleys I and 2 journaled frame members 3 and .crossedendless slicer blades '4 running over. thepulleys. .Theloread @is' fedto the: slicer blades along a .bed .5 which is 'slotted to permitpassage-of the slicer blades. Suitable-guidefingersJi-may be provided tohold the portions -of the blades passing through the bed 5 in parallelplanes. A series of the blades l are arranged side by side, as shown inFigs. 4 and :5; the spacesbetween the blades where they pass through thebed 5. corresponding .to the thickness of the .slices 'to be-cut.

Adjacent the uppermost drum 1 there mounted a lubricant applying wiper.block which is pressed against ;the outer surfaces the blades,- as they-pass'over the drum 1,.the-inher face of the block l being shaped toconform to. the surface of'thedrum and the block'beingof 1 a lengthsuflicient -to engage all of. the blades passing over thedrum. .Alongitudinal slot 8 extends the full-length-of the block 1 andcpens tothe-inner face of "the block. The slot 3 has an absorbentpad 9thereimwhichis impregnated with a lubricant-and servesto.maintain.a.supply of lubricant to the inner face-of. the'block, so

that theybands arecontinuously =moistened -with lubricant. j Lubricantmay be supplied-to .the pad 95through oilipassages. l0 leading to an oilreceiving channel -I l inythe top ofthe bloclel.

Lubricant is applied to the surface of the upper pulley l bymeans of anelongated wiper-block 'l 2;"7Whi0h engages the underside of the .pulley5 between the runs-of the endless slicer blades 4. .45;

The block 12 has an inner face which conforms to the surface of thepulley and is provided with a-slot I3 .opening to the inner facethereof,

in which is mounted anabsorbent pad J4 which is supplied -with oilthrough passages 15 leading from .an oil receiving-channel it formedinthe block. The block .12 preferably-projects-beyond an :end. of-thepulley- I, as shown in Fig. 7, a

sufficient, distance to expose an end portion of the channel 16, sothat-oil may :be introduced opposite :end .of the blade. lubricating.and scrapinto thethannel l 6.

The block l2 and I1 continuously supply oil to the surfaces of thepulleys and 2, and the oil on these pulleys moistens the inner surfacesof the slicer blades. The outer surfaces of the blades are continuouslymoistened by the lubricant applying wiper block I, and the lubricant onthe side faces of the blades greatly lessens the tendency of glutenousmaterial in the bread to stick to the surfaces of the blades.

Each of the lubricant applying blocks is ingly pressed toward thesurface of a drum and each of the blocks is mounted upon a support whichis detachably secured to the frame members 3 which support the pulleys.Each wiper unit is mounted upon a supporting bar 22 detachably securedto the frame members and disposed parallel with the pulley axes. Eachsupporting bar 22 is a square bar having one end fitting in a squarehole in a supporting plate 23 attached to one of the frame members 3.The opposite end of each of the bars 22 is provided with a bore 24 whichreceives a plunger 25 which is pressed outwardly by a coiled spring 25interposed between the inner end of the plunger and the bottom of thebore 24. A retaining pin 21 engaging a slot in the plunger 25 preventsseparation of the plunger from the bar 22. At its outer end the plungeris provided with a shoulder 28 and a reduced end 29 which fits in a holeprovided in a supporting plate 30 attached to the frame member 3opposite that to which the plate 23 is attached.

The wiper block 1 is carried by an angle bar 3| which has a verticalflange 32 rigidly attached to the supporting bar 22 and is resilientlysupported by means of a spring plate 33 which is secured by bolts 34 tothe vertical flange 32. The spring plate 33 projects above the bar 3|and is adjustably connected to the bar 3|, the plate being provided withslots 35 which receive the attaching bolts 34. By loosening the bolts 34the plate 33 and the block 1 may be adjusted vertically to increase ordecrease the spring pressure exerted on the block I by the plate 33. Theblock 1 is attached to the plate 33 by means of screws 36. The bar 3|has an inwardly projecting flange 31 to which is attached a resilientscraper blade 38 which engages the outer faces of the slicer bands. Thescraper blade 38 is adjustably connected to the flange 31, beingprovided with elongated slots 39 which receive attaching bolts 40. Byadjusting the scraper 38 inwardly toward the pulley the pressure of themay be increased.

The wiper block |2 is supported upon an angle bar 4| which is rigidlyattached to the removable cross bar 22 which is mounted directly beneathThe block I2 is carried by spring the top pulley l. plate 42 attached tothe bar 4| and this plate is preferably adjustably secured to the bar 4|so that the spring pressure exerted by the block on the drum may beincreased or decreased. To

permit this adjustment, the spring plate 42 mayji' be provided withslots 43 to receive attaching bolts 44, which serve to secure the platein adjusted positions on the bar 4|. The supporting bar 4| may beadjustably connected to the bar scraper on the blades:

yield- 22 by bolts 44a passing through slots 43a in the '75 bar 4|. Ascraper 45 is attached to the bar 22 on the side opposite that to whichthe bar 4| is attached and has its upper edge in engagement with theSurface of the pulley The scraper is preferably adjustably secured tothe bar, being provided with slots 46 which receive attaching bolts 41,by means of which the scraper may be secured in adjusted position. Aguard plate 48 may be secured to the bar 22 by the bolts 41 and thisguard plate coacts with the scraper to provide a receptacle to receiveany solid material dislodged from the surface of the pulley by thescraper.

As shown in Fig. 3, the wiper block I! which engages the lower pulley 2is supported on an angle bar 49 rigidly attached to the lower supportingbar 22, the block I! being carried by a spring plate 50 which isadjustably attached to the angle bar 49. The adjustment of the block 11is permitted by slots 5| in the plate 50 which receives attaching bolts52. Downward adjustment of the block I! causes increased deflection ofthe spring plate 50 and results in greater spring pressure on thesurface of the drum. A scraper 54 is clamped between the bar 49 and thelowermost bar 22 and is preferably adjustable to vary its pressureagainst the drum surface. The inner edge portion of the scraper 54 andthe bar 49 may be provided with transverse slots 55 and 55a whichreceive clamping bolts 55, which serve to secure the bar 49 and scraper54 in adjusted position. A guard plate 5'! may also be secured to thelowermost supporting bar 22 to prevent the particles of solid materialdislodged by the scraper 54 from flying into adjacent parts of themachine.

In the operation of the machine, the interior and exterior surfaces ofthe blades and the surfaces of the pulleys are continuously suppliedwith a liquid lubricant. The lubricant on the side faces of the bladeslessens the adhesion between the blades and glutenous material of thebread being sliced. Any glutenous material adhering to the exteriorsurfaces of the bands is removed by the scraper 38, and any glutenousmaterial adhering to the surfaces of the pulleys and 2 is removed by thescraper blades 45 and 54. It has been found that most of the adhesivematerial on the interior surfaces of the slicer blades is transferred tothe surfaces of the pulleys during passage of the blades over thepulleys, and that the cleanin of the pulley Surfaces serves to preventany substantial accumulation of solid material on the inner surfaces ofthe slicer blades. The lubricant used is preferably an oil such as thatknown in the trade as divider oil which is a light, colorless, odorlessand tasteless oil of vegetable origin. The wooden wiper blocks arepreferably made of hard maple since this material has been found to havesuperior wearing qualities.

It is essential that both the lubricant applying block 8 and the scraper33 engage the blades 4 at points where the blades are in full engagementwlth a rigid surface, such as the cylindrical surface of the pulley I,so that the depth of grooves worn in the block and scraper by the bladescannot exceed the thickness of the blades. If the bloclr or scraper wereengaged with an unbacked portion of the blades, deep grooves would beworn in the block or scraper by the cutter blad which would interferewith adjustment of the blades on the pulleys to vary the thickness ofthelices cut y e blades- By positioning the blo k 1 and the scraper 38to engage the blades'in the arc of contact of the blades with the'pulleyl,

where they are in full engagement with the pulley I, the grooving of thescraper and block is so slight that the blades are not damaged when setto a different spacing.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the specificdevices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a bread slicing machine having a pair of spaced pulleys and aseries of endless cutter blades passing over said pulleys, means formoistening the peripheral blade engaging surfaces of said pulleys with alubricant, a lubricant applying Wiper bearing against the externalsurfaces of the cutter blades on one of said pulleys, a scraper engagingthe periphery of each pulley throughout the length of the blade engagingportion thereof, and a scraper engaging the outer surfaces of the cutterblades on one of said pulleys.

2. In a bread slicing machine having a pair of spaced pulleys and aseries of spaced endless cutter blades running over said pulleys, alubricant applying wiper comprising a wood block having an inner faceshaped to conform to the surface of a pulley, a slot opening to saidinner face, a lubricant impregnated pad in said slot, and means foryieldingly pressing said block toward the surface of the pulley.

3. In a bread slicing machine having a pair f paced p eys and a seriesof spaced endless cutter blades running over said pulleys, a combinedlubricating and scraping device comprising a supporting bar parallelwith and adjacent a pulley, a lubricant applying wiper resilientlysupported by said bar, and a resilient scraper carried by said bar, saidwiper and scraper engaging the outer surfaces of cutter blades on theadjacent pulley.

4. In a bread slicing machine having a pair of spaced pulleys and spacedendless cutter blades running over said pulleys, a lubricating applyingand scraping device comprising a fixed bar parallel with and adjacent toa pulley, a resilient supporting member attached to said bar, alubricant applying wiper carried by said resilient member and yieldinglypressed against the pulley, said resilient member being adjustable tovary the pressure of the Wiper ag n th p l y, and ,a resilient scraperattached to said bar and yieldingly pressed against the pulley, saidscraper being adjustable on the bar to vary the pressure thereof againstthe drum.

5. In a bread slicing machine having a pair of pulleys and a series offiat endless cutter blades spaced apart and running over said pulleys, awiper block extending longitudinally of one of said pulleys and engagingthe same between the opposite runs of said blades, a Wiper blockextending longitudinally of one of said pulleys and engaging theexterior surfaces of the blades running over the latter pulley, saidblocks having concave faces conforming to the pulley curvature, alubricant retaining pad carried by each of said Wiper blocks forapplying lubricant to the surfaces of the blades and pulleys, and meansfor yieldably pressing each wiper block against the pulley adjacentwhich it is mounted. I

6. In a bread slicing machine having a pair of spaced pulleys and aseries of fiat spaced end less cutter blades running over said pulleys,a lubricant applying Wiper engaging the exterior surfaces of said bladesin the arc of contact of the blades with one of said pulleys, saidwipercomprising a block having a concave blade engaging face conformingto the curvature of the pulley, a longitudinal slot opening to its bladeengaging face and a lubricant impregnated pad in said slot, and meansfor yieldably pressing said Wiper against said blades.

ARTHUR A. KOTTMANN. FRED L. BENNETT. EDWARD R. KEAST.

